E230 Aircraft Systems
Dials and Gauges
6th Presentation School Of
Engineering
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Aircraft Instrument Systems
• Aircraft instruments are the eyes of the aircraft.
• Improves safety during poor visibility conditions such
as flying in clouds and night time.
• Provide information to flight crew about the flight
• Help them in making correct decisions during flight
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Information presented by Instrument
• Visual information (By sight)
• Cockpit indications
• Flashing lights
• Changing colors
• Audio information (By sound)
• Fire bell
• Warning horn
• Chime
•Tactile information (By touch)
• Stick shaker
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Process to get reading from Instruments
• Detecting
• Detect changes in physical quantity or condition
• Measuring
• Measure the value of the physical quantity
• Coupling
• Magnify and transmit the measurements to the
indicating element
• Indicating
• Display the measured quantity
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Classification of Aircraft Instruments
according to Function
•Flight instruments
•Shows aircraft flight characteristics
•Navigation instruments
•Guides pilot along flight course
•Engine instruments
•Provides information about the engine
•System instruments
•Provides system operation status
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Main instruments in Aircraft cockpit
Flight Instruments Navigation
Instruments
Engine Instruments Systems Instruments
Airspeed
Indicator
Altimeter
Attitude Indicator
Vertical Speed
Indicator
Turn Coordinator
Heading
Indicator
Compass
VOR Receiver
Glide Slope
Oil pressure
indicator
Oil temperature
indicator
Exhaust Gas
Temperature
Fuel Flow
Indicator
Fuel Gauge
Tachometer
Hydraulic
pressure indicator
Vacuum gauge
Ammeter
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Altimeter (ALT)
• Measures the height of the aircraft above sea level.
• Uses pressure information given from the static system
• Adjustable to suit local barometric pressure.
• Works on the principle that higher altitude has lower pressure and vice versa
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Attitude Indicator (AI)
• Shows the aircraft
attitude relative to the
horizon.
• Tells whether wings level
or nose up/down.
• Uses the principle of
gyroscope rigidity.
• Also known as artificial
horizon
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Airspeed Indicator (ASI)
• Shows the aircraft speed
relative to the
surrounding air
• Uses pressure
information from the pitot-
static system
• Units usually given in
knots
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Directional Gyro (DG)
• Displays aircraft heading
with respect to true north.
• Principle of operation is
gyroscopic rigidity
• DG is also known as
heading indicator
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Turn Coordinator
• Displays aircraft direction
of turn and rate of turn.
• Determines whether the
aircraft turn is
coordinated.
• Principle of operation is
gyroscopic precession.
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Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
• Displays aircraft rate of
climb or descent
• Principle of operation is
sensing changing air
pressure
• Units in feets per
minutes, meters per
second or knots.
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Instrument layout in cockpit
• Basic T instrument layout
•Most light aircraft add the two lower instruments to the
basic T. Some call this the ‘basic six’.
Turn Coordinator Directional Gyro Vertical Speed Indicator
Airspeed Artificial Horizon Altimeter
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Standard PFD Indications
Speed
Heading
Attitude
Indicator /
Artificial
Horizon
Altitude
Vertical
Speed
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Standard Cockpit Layout
Captain PFD Captain ND 1st Officer ND 1st Officer PFD
EICAS
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Requirements for Aircraft Instruments
• Reliable
• Light-weight
• Able to withstand vibrations and acceleration forces
during flight
• Corrosion-resistant
• Shielded from interference from radio and magnetic
sources
• Easy installation, removal and adjustment
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Learning Objectives
• Identify the basic aircraft instruments
• Describe the function of basic aircraft
instruments
• Recognise the common cockpit layouts
• Describe the process to get reading from aircraft
instruments
• Describe the classifications of aircraft
instruments
• Describe the design considerations for aircraft
instruments